Recruit Roundup: TE Key Position in ’16
IOWA CITY, Iowa – Iowa ended a four-month commitment draught this week landing a pair of Detroit defensive end teammates. Still, much work remained for the Hawkeyes in the Class of 2016.
The East English Village Prep due of Cedrick Lattimore and Chauncey Golson on Monday brought the pledge count to four. Wisconsin’s Nate Stanley, a quarterback, and running back Toren Young joined up during the holidays. Iowa expected to bring in a group of 20-25 prospects in this cycle.
At least the Hawkeyes built up some momentum heading into an important stretch. May continues to be an open period when coaches visit targets at their schools. Next month camps will occur in Iowa City and then there’s the annual recruiting tailgate.
Tight end stands out as a perhaps the main position of need right now. Two players atop the board are planning on a decision within the next month or so.
Fort Wayne (IN) Homestead High’s Ben Skowronek visited Iowa on April 18. He was scheduled to announce a commitment on June 7.
Skowronek, who caught 42 passes for 841 yards and 12 touchdowns as a junior, told us after his stop that the Hawkeyes were high on his list.
Noah Fant from Omaha (NE) South High says he’s focused on three schools right now and a decision could be coming next month. He has the Hawkeyes in there after visiting for the spring game and is looking to stop at the school again before committing anywhere.
Albert Okwuegbunam joins Skowronek and Fant as tight ends high on Iowa’s board that have visited this year. He was here on April 9 and said he and his mother were impressed .
The Hawkeyes continued to cast a wide net last week when they offered Georgia tight end Miller Forristall. He told us he liked the program’s rich history at the position and was considering a summer visit.
Several of Iowa’s early tight end targets have committed elsewhere. Among them were Brendan Scales (Alabama), Jake Hausmann (Ohio State), Devante Brooks (Tennessee), Donte Coleman (Texas Tech) and Noah Davis (Michigan State). Highly-regarded Naseir Upshur, Luke Farrell, Cary Angeline and Jacob Mathis have received opportunities but have shown little interest to date.
There are players who’ve yet to pick up an offer that could move up the board should others ahead of them commit elsewhere. Guys like T.J. Hockenson, Mitchell Brinkman, Jaye Patrick, Matt Prendergast, Shuan Beyer and Griffin Palmer (Miam Ohio verbal) sit on the radar.
Nate Vejvoda signed as the only tight end in the ’15 Class. Despite people speculating that Drew Cook will end up there, he was brought in as a quarterback.
There were no tight ends in the ’14. Jon Wisnieski came in the year before with Ike Boettger, who is not the starting right tackle.
So, as you can see, tight end is a critical position in the current cycle. Jake Duzey and Henry Krieger Coble will be seniors this fall and George Kittle is a junior. Wisnieski and Vejvoda are are the only other scholarship players at the position.
QUICK-HITTERS:
-Illinois defensive end Romeo McKnight picked up an offer this week. He told us he’d be visiting Saturday and holds the Hawkeyes in high regard.
-Maryland wide receiver Devonte Young still considers Iowa is favorite. He told us that his parents would like him to wait on a commitment, however.
-Here are some of the last week’s Hawkeye offers as reported on Twitter:
Blessed to receive my first Big 10 offer from Iowa!! #gohawkeyes @larryblustein @Cassidy_Rob pic.twitter.com/x829wSKTcp
— Anthony5?Julmisse (@FloridabredAnt) May 15, 2015
Just received a Iowa offer #Hawkeyes
— Stanford Samuels III (@SSIII_) May 15, 2015
Congrats to Bryce Morais @Bryce90beast on his latest offer from The University of Iowa @Ent4Dummies @77MMorais pic.twitter.com/wDdkPdPHKK
— Grayson HS Recruits (@GHSRecruits) May 15, 2015
Blessed to say I have received an offer from The University of Iowa!! #Hawkeyes #UI ????????????????
— ?Deonte J. Williams? (@da__truth2) May 18, 2015
Received an offer from Iowa! #Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/U4ZOtbXotX
— Andrew Fitzgerald (@andrewfitz90) May 18, 2015
Just received my 5th offer from the university of Iowa! #gohawkeyes pic.twitter.com/py9hh0fniw
— Robert Barnes (@r0bertbarnes) May 18, 2015
Blessed to recieve my 18th offer from the University of Iowa Hawkeyes ?????????????? pic.twitter.com/bps5JhkKHC
— KJ Sails Jr (@KJ2LiVE) May 18, 2015
Excited to have received an offer from The university of Iowa !! pic.twitter.com/6gcI5zmWQS
— Emmanuel Rugamba (@BooRadd_) May 21, 2015